Taiwan deports second mainland Chinese man for defacing Lennon Wall backing Hong Kong protests

Taiwan has deported a second mainland Chinese traveller this month for tearing down posters supporting Hong Kong’s anti-government protests from a “Lennon Wall” display.

The businessman, identified by his surname Hu, was expelled from Taiwan on Monday evening and prevented from re-entering the island for five years. Prosecutors found he had “damaged property” by removing posters on Sunday at an underpass in Taichung, in the island’s west, Taiwan’s immigration department said on Tuesday. Hu was also fined NT$30,000 (US$980).

The colourful Lennon Walls – like those in Hong Kong itself – have appeared across Taiwan, featuring Post-its and posters in support of the more than four months of protests in the city, but they have also been the site of clashes between supporters and opponents.

The demonstrations in Hong Kong – triggered by a now-withdrawn extradition bill that would have allowed the transfer of criminal suspects to the mainland’s opaque legal system – also call for universal suffrage and accountability for alleged police brutality.

Another mainlander, Li Shaodong, was deported from Taiwan on October 9 for removing protest-related posters from a Lennon Wall at the National Taiwan University in Taipei.

Video released by the immigration department on Monday showed Hu, wearing a surgical mask and hoodie, being escorted out of Taiwan by the authorities. The department said in a statement that anyone “acting illegally or breaking the rules” would be subject to law enforcement, including restricted exit from Taiwan or forcible deportation and restricted re-entry.

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The Hong Kong protests have become a major news item in Taiwan, drawing widespread support as many see parallels between the self-ruled island’s own fate and demands in Hong Kong for a faster pace of democratic reform.

The unrest in Hong Kong, which is semi-autonomous under Beijing, has plunged the city into its worst political crisis since the former British colony was handed over to Chinese control in 1997.

Denis Chen, the owner of Match Cafe in Taichung, wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday that he had assisted the authorities by providing evidence to the police who handled Hu’s case.

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“Our principles are very simple – damaging promotional materials is a small matter, but hurting Taiwan’s democracy is a big matter,” he said. “If you rip one from the Lennon Walls, we will stick on 100 more, since those in Taichung who care about Hong Kong’s anti-extradition fight will naturally continually put more up, but using violent methods to hurt freedom of speech, ignoring that Taiwan is a country with rule of law – this type of behaviour cannot be tolerated.”